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Advice on Set-up
Situation -- a local B&B wants to open a massage service in thier facility which would serve the larger community. They have a successful lodging business but no spa/salon experience except as consumers. They are thinking of the independent contractor route taking a percentage of the gross for thier reservation/credit card service and room (assume no linen service or supplies).
I am not even out of school yet but this has a lot of advantages for me personally including helping to establish the ground rules.
So I need some help ! Specifically what would their percentage be ? How would I drive this discussion to a good result for both of us.
FYI -- I am continuing on my business plan and marketing my personal practice.
Views: 169
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Travis Alligood on
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Hi Sharon,
Good Luck with your idea, hope it works well with you upon graduating and getting licensed. My experience with B&B has been that if the client would like to set up an appointment that is something that the caretaker of the B&B would offer to them and either give them your info or caretaker would call me and let me know that a client is coming to town and like to set an appointment. Here is my expierience so far which is not a whole lot to tell you about. A NO SHOW !! They were qouted a price and changed their mind. The price was reasonable and supposedly the run a spa in another state. With that in mind Im thinking it wasnt the price it was a scheduling conflict, now it was also a Sunday a day that I do not work, and it was a holiday weekend and short notice. Im trying to get the business there so I quoted what I felt was extremely attractive. There are so many different aspects you could go with this and that is one reason I opted to take payment at my website, so there is no confusion. Client did come to town but did not receive massage.I have had time to think about what I have run into and feel better with the education that I recieved with this expierence, but what works for you may not work for me and vice versa. So just something to get the ball rolling.
Peace Travis
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Permalink Reply by Maria Daniela Mohr on
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Hi Sharon, I live in a town where there are so many B & B's so this is kinda what therapist do, try to set up a room where they can do massages, are they gonna give you a room so you can set up?, or do you have to bring your equipment all the time?
If they provide you with the room so you can set up, then if they charge 80 you can keep 50 and they 30, since you are providing with supplies, they can take care of payment and booking ( but you need to make sure that they set up a 24 hour cancellation police) if they cancel they still need to pay you, since they are gonna be charging for not canceling on time, or you can take care of scheduling
Another way to do it is if you are gonna be setting up at all times, then you tell them you need 60 and they keep 20, ( just because of the fact your are bringing your equipment every time setting up on a room they are providing you with) a different way is you can tell them that your out call price is 80 and that you need to make 80 and they can charge whatever they want on top of that if they wanna make something out of it,( this only if you are bringing your equipment at all times and do it at the guest's room), ask them also to add a menu on their website of the services that you are going to provide, so people is aware that they provide with massage, make some rack cards and ask them to place them in the rooms, and you also need to tell the innkeepers that when people call to mention that they have massage available, also if this is a big B&B where they do retreats or weddings, you can offer chair massage for the big parties, and give them10% or 20% ( you figure that out) of what you make... this is how we do it in Fredericksburg, TX :) GOOD LUCK!
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Permalink Reply by Kelli Dougan on
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I thnk Samantha brings up some very valid points for you as a new therapist. Being new there are so many things you don't even think of until you have to go through it yourself. You would also really have to look into the Establishment Licensing. Will you have to apply for this or would the b&b? That there can be a large investment as well. Just do your homework thoroughly and read everyone's comments on here for guidance. Best of luck you.
Samantha J. Bennett said:If that is the type of set up they want to have ( to have a massage service at their B&B with you as the only therapist)- I would request to be put on as an employee/ staff instead of an independent contractor- b/c you would need to be available for their daytime business hours. It would be taking to much risk - for no shows, cancellations, people showing up late, you would have to be putting your scheduling completely in their hands- even if you tried to build your business on your own- scheduling might end up getting messed up because there would be more than one person doing the scheduling. Sounds like it could end up being a nightmare business situation.
Just starting out you want to have as much of the exposure of doing all your customer service yourself b/c you have the time to- so you should be doing your scheduling ...who has the money directly starting out to want to give more money to someone else if they don't have to esp.ly when problems could occur. As with anything else - massage therapists as indepentant contractors typically just have a room rental agreement. They charge you monthly for the room. Depending on what you would agree on for that -if they started you off decently, you could add 10-15% of your services you provide for their clientele only. The clients you bring in would be completely yours. And I can't give you a good price on what's acceptable because i don't know your area and what the norm. is for therapists rented rooms.
You're correct it could be a wonderful advantage for you starting out with your career (exposure to get right out there, you could offer short chair massages to guests to peak their interest, the B&B and yourself could offer many professional advantages to each other if they were interested, cut in advertising and marketing fees, printing fees, promotions, etc) ....but just don't let them take your lack of experience at the moment for granted. You have to start thinking like a business professional. And you also have start up and supplies, licensure as a therapist and also business licenses to keep in mind. Just because you would be working under another business- doesn't mean you wouldn't have to get your own state (if you have them), city licenses, inspections, etc.
I just can't stress enough whatever it is that you agree to - have everything in writing! Even if you think it's something that shouldn't even matter or should be common sence- have it in writing! ( personal experience myself- i rented out a shop in a building from this lady (she had a tanning bed in the back - so access to her and her customers was needed) and didn't even give it a though to put in writing in the contract or think someone could be that stupid to the fact.... but room temperature was one of the biggies. She was coming in and adjusting the temp. down or up on me to make it colder in the winter or warmer in the summer because she didn't account for when her utilities went up in the heat extremes. Therefore I would have to schedule appts. esp.ly around me making sure i was in the shop just to turn the darn thing correctly at least 30 hour before appts. so the air temp. would be acceptable. Unfornately business can be rough at times (esp.ly if your business relationships with people turn out to be not the greatest) and you have to learn how to play the games some people can throw at ya. So learn quick to play the game with them, so they can't have the upper hand with you, esp.ly if it's due to your lack of experience in a given area. :)
ok- that got long sorry! Wish ya luck- feel free to email me if ya need anything else. I'd be more than happy to help if i could! tc
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Samantha,
Great job ! Thanks for input. You added a couple of interesting factors there that really I did not consider. Goes to show ALWAYS room for improvement. Travis
Samantha J. Bennett said:If that is the type of set up they want to have ( to have a massage service at their B&B with you as the only therapist)- I would request to be put on as an employee/ staff instead of an independent contractor- b/c you would need to be available for their daytime business hours. It would be taking to much risk - for no shows, cancellations, people showing up late, you would have to be putting your scheduling completely in their hands- even if you tried to build your business on your own- scheduling might end up getting messed up because there would be more than one person doing the scheduling. Sounds like it could end up being a nightmare business situation.
Just starting out you want to have as much of the exposure of doing all your customer service yourself b/c you have the time to- so you should be doing your scheduling ...who has the money directly starting out to want to give more money to someone else if they don't have to esp.ly when problems could occur. As with anything else - massage therapists as indepentant contractors typically just have a room rental agreement. They charge you monthly for the room. Depending on what you would agree on for that -if they started you off decently, you could add 10-15% of your services you provide for their clientele only. The clients you bring in would be completely yours. And I can't give you a good price on what's acceptable because i don't know your area and what the norm. is for therapists rented rooms.
You're correct it could be a wonderful advantage for you starting out with your career (exposure to get right out there, you could offer short chair massages to guests to peak their interest, the B&B and yourself could offer many professional advantages to each other if they were interested, cut in advertising and marketing fees, printing fees, promotions, etc) ....but just don't let them take your lack of experience at the moment for granted. You have to start thinking like a business professional. And you also have start up and supplies, licensure as a therapist and also business licenses to keep in mind. Just because you would be working under another business- doesn't mean you wouldn't have to get your own state (if you have them), city licenses, inspections, etc.
I just can't stress enough whatever it is that you agree to - have everything in writing! Even if you think it's something that shouldn't even matter or should be common sence- have it in writing! ( personal experience myself- i rented out a shop in a building from this lady (she had a tanning bed in the back - so access to her and her customers was needed) and didn't even give it a though to put in writing in the contract or think someone could be that stupid to the fact.... but room temperature was one of the biggies. She was coming in and adjusting the temp. down or up on me to make it colder in the winter or warmer in the summer because she didn't account for when her utilities went up in the heat extremes. Therefore I would have to schedule appts. esp.ly around me making sure i was in the shop just to turn the darn thing correctly at least 30 hour before appts. so the air temp. would be acceptable. Unfornately business can be rough at times (esp.ly if your business relationships with people turn out to be not the greatest) and you have to learn how to play the games some people can throw at ya. So learn quick to play the game with them, so they can't have the upper hand with you, esp.ly if it's due to your lack of experience in a given area. :)
ok- that got long sorry! Wish ya luck- feel free to email me if ya need anything else. I'd be more than happy to help if i could! tc
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Permalink Reply by Sharon Fields on
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I knew you guys would give me great things to consider. It's all just up in the air with these people right now, I am pursuing my original plan right now -- but I REALLY appreciate the talking points !
Enjoy you day everyone !
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Grandmother is a wise Soul.
Samantha J. Bennett said:lol Travis....well it goes with peoples' individual personal experience. Unfornately I was one that got themselves into a "to good to be true" situation right after becoming newly licensed. And being overly excited about that, wanting to get out there immediately and help others, but partnered with knowing 'bout zip towards the business end of things (and understanding commen sence sometimes went out the window if they could change it around to benefit them) and trusting people to much at their word - wasn't a good combo. I understand the frustration of something like that and the toll it can take on a person and their confidence levels as a therapist! If I can help someone else think things through a little more before jumping into something that in the end might not help them as a whole- it's all worth it to me :)
PS. My grandmother used to say if you can't learn something new everyday, it wasn't a great day! :)
Travis Alligood said:Samantha,
Great job ! Thanks for input. You added a couple of interesting factors there that really I did not consider. Goes to show ALWAYS room for improvement. Travis
Samantha J. Bennett said:If that is the type of set up they want to have ( to have a massage service at their B&B with you as the only therapist)- I would request to be put on as an employee/ staff instead of an independent contractor- b/c you would need to be available for their daytime business hours. It would be taking to much risk - for no shows, cancellations, people showing up late, you would have to be putting your scheduling completely in their hands- even if you tried to build your business on your own- scheduling might end up getting messed up because there would be more than one person doing the scheduling. Sounds like it could end up being a nightmare business situation.
Just starting out you want to have as much of the exposure of doing all your customer service yourself b/c you have the time to- so you should be doing your scheduling ...who has the money directly starting out to want to give more money to someone else if they don't have to esp.ly when problems could occur. As with anything else - massage therapists as indepentant contractors typically just have a room rental agreement. They charge you monthly for the room. Depending on what you would agree on for that -if they started you off decently, you could add 10-15% of your services you provide for their clientele only. The clients you bring in would be completely yours. And I can't give you a good price on what's acceptable because i don't know your area and what the norm. is for therapists rented rooms.
You're correct it could be a wonderful advantage for you starting out with your career (exposure to get right out there, you could offer short chair massages to guests to peak their interest, the B&B and yourself could offer many professional advantages to each other if they were interested, cut in advertising and marketing fees, printing fees, promotions, etc) ....but just don't let them take your lack of experience at the moment for granted. You have to start thinking like a business professional. And you also have start up and supplies, licensure as a therapist and also business licenses to keep in mind. Just because you would be working under another business- doesn't mean you wouldn't have to get your own state (if you have them), city licenses, inspections, etc.
I just can't stress enough whatever it is that you agree to - have everything in writing! Even if you think it's something that shouldn't even matter or should be common sence- have it in writing! ( personal experience myself- i rented out a shop in a building from this lady (she had a tanning bed in the back - so access to her and her customers was needed) and didn't even give it a though to put in writing in the contract or think someone could be that stupid to the fact.... but room temperature was one of the biggies. She was coming in and adjusting the temp. down or up on me to make it colder in the winter or warmer in the summer because she didn't account for when her utilities went up in the heat extremes. Therefore I would have to schedule appts. esp.ly around me making sure i was in the shop just to turn the darn thing correctly at least 30 hour before appts. so the air temp. would be acceptable. Unfornately business can be rough at times (esp.ly if your business relationships with people turn out to be not the greatest) and you have to learn how to play the games some people can throw at ya. So learn quick to play the game with them, so they can't have the upper hand with you, esp.ly if it's due to your lack of experience in a given area. :)
ok- that got long sorry! Wish ya luck- feel free to email me if ya need anything else. I'd be more than happy to help if i could! tc
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Permalink Reply by Angela Yates on
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Icurrently do this. I am paid by the B & B and they do the I-9 on me too. I bring my own stuff: sheets, lotions and music. I set up in the guests room as they have no area for massage other than the guest room. The B&B advertises it on his web site and I currently do a 60 min couples massage (30 on each person). My clients are checked out by the owner - so no strange people get through. He charges $70 and I get $60 for the hour. I then claim on my taxes mileage, sheets, lotion and other things like business cards. It all works out and last year I made $5,000 with him and this year I am projected to make double. Work with your owner and see what they can work out between you and get it in writing....and do a 3-6 month contract. That way you both can discuss and make changes as needed. Good luck,
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